Possible Perfect Tense Error with "Since"

Using the perfect tense correctly can be tricky, especially when it comes to using it with the word "since". There are a few common mistakes that people make, so let's take a look at them and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Incorrect Verb Form

One mistake that people often make is using the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) instead of the simple past tense. For example:

• Incorrect: I have seen her since last week.
• Correct: I saw her last week.

In this case, "since" is used to indicate a specific point in time (last week), so the simple past tense should be used instead of the present perfect tense.

Mistake 2: Incorrect Use of "Since"

Another mistake that people make is using "since" incorrectly in a sentence. "Since" is used to indicate a starting point in time. Here are a couple of examples:

• Incorrect: I have been working here since five years.
• Correct: I have been working here for five years.

In the incorrect example, "since" is used with a specific amount of time (five years), but it should be used with the word "for" instead.

Linguix Grammar Checker

Linguix grammar checker can be a helpful tool to catch these common mistakes. It can identify instances where the perfect tense is used incorrectly with "since" and suggest corrections, ensuring that your writing is grammatically correct.